Preschool Letter Y for Yarn Activities

 

Hi everyone! We’ve been working hard over here to finish up our letter of the Week activities. And this week the Teeny Tot is working on the Letter Y for Yarn!

Letter Y Memory Verse: “You are My friends if you do whatever I command you.” John 15:14. Click here to download verse puzzle (Note I use this with my 2nd grader, not prek)

For our verses and accompanying games/stories we use the following books:
ABC Memory Verses & My ABC Bible Verses

Read Chicka Chicka Boom Boom and put up the letter Y on our Alphabet Tree! You can download my small alphabet letters here.

 

Shape Matching Puzzles: Cut the balls of yarn out, then cut down the dashed lines to make shape matching puzzles.

Yarn Number Matchup! This game is for counting practice. Simply cut out along the lines so you end up with squares. Have your child put mini-clothes pins, pom-poms or paper clips or the manipulative of your choice onto the card based on the number on it.

 

Yarn Coloring & Yarn Color By Number: We color this, paint it, or use markers. I found some that fit my 3 year old well, they’re called Pip-Squeaks Washable Markers, we also use Do-a-Dot Art Markers with this! Today she’s using our Crayola Erasable Colored Pencils.

Yarn Magnet Page: I use this with a cookie sheet and these pom-pom magnets I made from pom-poms and self-sticky magnets from the craft isle in Wal-mart. I also use these magnets from Amazon: Power Magnets, 0.75 inch Diameter, Assorted Colors

 

Capital/Lowercase Yy sorting: Simple, just sort out the attached uppercase and lowercase letters.

Yy Tracing Card:This is new, I made it for kiddos who aren’t quite ready for my pre-writing or writing practice books. Its large and easier to trace. You could use markers, or laminate and use with Expo Dry Erase Markers

Yarn Floor Numbers: I made these large floor numbers so that we can play a hopscotch type game. I call out a number and she jumps to it! You could also have them put the cards in numerical order. The number cards go from 1-10.

Yarn Cutting Practice: Simple print and let your child try cutting along the lines!

 

Y Do-A-Dot Page: We use Do-a-Dot Art Markers with this, and she puts one dab in each circle. You can also use these with small round magnets or stickers.

 

Yarn Numbers Writing Practice: I laminate this then use them with Expo Dry Erase Markers. You can leave the sheets whole, or cut along lines and hole punch upper left corner, then bind with a key ring for a mini-book.

Yarn Puzzle: Cut along the guides for a fun 6 piece beginner’s puzzle!

Yarn Pattern Activity: Simply cut out the pieces then use the to complete the pattern.

Yarn Color Puzzles: I simply cut out the pieces, then cut them in half in random ways for small color matching puzzles.

Letter Poking Page:I found this fun idea on Activity Mom. Instead of tracing, we are going to use a toothpick, or we have these cute Oversized Push Pins, to poke holes through the paper in the shape of the letter. Print on regular paper for easier poking, and do this one on carpet Another idea would be to hole punch along the lines of the letter as well. Both work on motor skills!

Yarn Size Sort: Put these in order small to big or big to small then discuss which is largest, smallest and medium.

 

Yarn Lacing Card: I make sure to laminate this one for durability, then punch with a hole punch every inch or so for lacing practice. Teach them patterns to do with this as well, like up from the bottom each time, or in-out-in-out sewing. Whatever pattern you can think of.

Letter Y Scavenger Hunt: Fill the box with things that start with A! Some ideas: yarn, yo-yo, yogurt.

 

Counting Practice: Put a number in the box, then have your child add on the appropriate number of yarn balls.

 

Yarn Graphing: I laminate this and then have them either color in the dots with Expo Dry Erase Markers, or put bingo markers or little valentine heart candies on it. I didn’t take a picture of this, so I’m including one from back when Teeny Tot did it. But for the graphing, you just count the items on the card. Then use your favorite manipulative and add that same number to the graph below. Make sure to put one bead in each spot on the graph.

 

11 x 11 Pin Geoboard: We use these to make letters, numbers, shapes etc!

Foam Letter Builders: I cut the shapes from foam and let her use them to make the letters. You could also use my Magnetic Letter Builders as well!

Finger Tracing Paint Bag: This is simple and fun, I filled a bag with tempura paint, you could also use cheap shaving cream. Then I’ll tape it to her desk for her to practice writing her letter on using her finger. You could also skip the bag and put shaving cream on your counter if you’re feeling brave ;o) After we do the letters we do numbers, shapes, and whatever else we can think of!

 

Letter Collage Worksheets: The download includes letters A-Z as well as a collage idea sheet. We use these items as objects to decorate our letters for an alphabet book. Since we use both upper and lowercase, I have provided both for you! Click here to download the Letter Collages:

• Uppercase A-Z Worksheets
• Lowercase a-z Worksheets

 

Color Cubes: I use our Large Alphabet Lacing Cards to serve as templates for our 1″ building blocks. We pick 2 colors of blocks and do a pattern as we form the letters! We also use them for lacing practice, but this was a variation since I’ve been making the shaped lacing cards too! Click here for more fun with Creative Color Cube Activity Cards

 

Letter Bead Lacing: I’ll put an index card in this box with the word “yarn” so she knows the order of the letters. I got my lacing beads from Lakeshore Learning but these look more fun to me: Bead Bazaar Lacing Kits – Alphabet Lacing Kit

Play Balloon Volleyball: A good friend of mine over at 7renfros suggested a fun game called “Balloon volleyball”, its basically a toddler-friendly version of regular volleyball. Kids take turns batting a balloon up in the air, with the goal of trying to keep it off the ground as it floats downward. You can shout out words that start with the letter “Y” each time you hit the balloon! Thanks Melissa, great idea!

 

Family Fun Night: Make Yummy Yogosicles (recipe below)!

Have each child measure the following ingredients into a small bowl.

• 1/4 C. Yogurt (vanilla, banana or plain)
• 1 Tsp. Frozen Orange Juice Concentrate (thawed)
• 1 Tsp. Honey

Mix well and pour the mixture into a small paper or plastic cup and freeze.
When the mixture is solid enough to hold up a popsicle stick, put one in and refreeze until firm.

Letter Y Reading:
Alpha Tales The Yak Who Yelled Yuck by Carol Pugliano-Martin
You and Me, Little Bear by Martin Waddell
God Loves You Very Much Veggie Tales
Veggie Tales: Are You My Neighbor? Veggie Tales
Leapfrog Letter Factory DVD

 

So those are just some of what I managed to capture via photos this week, but you can click here to download all of the Letter Y preschool activities, or check out my Letter of the Week preschool curriculum to get the entire alphabet all at once!

Is my Letter of the Week Curriculum too easy for your student? If your student is ready to move on to Kindergarten, make sure to check out my K4 Kindergarten Curriculum!